Megan Williams

Fagioli says the decision to send Rubio to Rome was telling.

Now, there's another political dimension to this visit.

With midterm elections about six months away, the White House does not want conservative Catholic voters thinking Trump is anti-Pope.

Yes, she did.

Maloney was until recently one of Trump's closest allies in Europe.

But attacking the Pope does not play well in Italy, and she called his comments unacceptable.

After she defended the Pope, Trump turned on her too.

So when Rubio meets Maloney, they'll likely talk about Iran, but there's also this awkward subtext.

Trump's attacks on the Pope have now really also become a problem for one of his staunchest European allies.

From the balcony above a flower-filled St. Peter's Square, a frail Pope Francis greeted thousands. Though too weak to lead mass or deliver his Urbi et Orbi, the traditional address to Rome and to the world, it called for a Gaza ceasefire, food for the starving, the release of Israeli hostages, and peace in Ukraine, Sudan, and the Congo.

From the balcony above a flower-filled St. Peter's Square, a frail Pope Francis greeted thousands. Though too weak to lead mass or deliver his Urbi et Orbi, the traditional address to Rome and to the world, it called for a Gaza ceasefire, food for the starving, the release of Israeli hostages, and peace in Ukraine, Sudan, and the Congo.

After five weeks in hospital, the 88-year-old pope is still recovering.

After five weeks in hospital, the 88-year-old pope is still recovering.

After the service, Francis greeted crowds from his Popemobile. For NPR News, I'm Megan Williams at the Vatican.

After the service, Francis greeted crowds from his Popemobile. For NPR News, I'm Megan Williams at the Vatican.

The Vatican says Pope Francis met privately with Vance on Easter morning to exchange holiday greetings. The brief encounter came a day after Vance held more formal talks with senior Vatican officials. Francis, still recovering from pneumonia, did not attend those meetings. Vance, a Catholic convert, has publicly clashed with the Pope over immigration.

The Vatican says Pope Francis met privately with Vance on Easter morning to exchange holiday greetings. The brief encounter came a day after Vance held more formal talks with senior Vatican officials. Francis, still recovering from pneumonia, did not attend those meetings. Vance, a Catholic convert, has publicly clashed with the Pope over immigration.

Francis has called President Donald Trump's crackdown a, quote, disgrace, and indirectly rebuked Vance for using Christian values to justify hardline immigration policies. The Pope called the immigration policy a, quote, major crisis for the U.S. For NPR News, I'm Megan Williams at the Vatican.

Francis has called President Donald Trump's crackdown a, quote, disgrace, and indirectly rebuked Vance for using Christian values to justify hardline immigration policies. The Pope called the immigration policy a, quote, major crisis for the U.S. For NPR News, I'm Megan Williams at the Vatican.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi and U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff didn't meet directly here in Rome, but instead passed messages through an Omani official, as they did in last week's talks in Muscat, which both sides called constructive. The U.S. wants Iran to scale back uranium enrichment and allow tougher international inspections. Iran wants sanctions relief in return.